Stan Watt phones in after a superb performance in Stage 5 of the Optic, a day filled with soft sand and huge dunes. Update on Craig Bound's mechanical issues, and news that Ludivine Puy's bike was destroyed by fire out on the stage (she's okay). Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

John Deykes calls in from the bivouac, after a mechanical failure saw him collected by the Broom Wagon yesterday. He hopes to be able to repair the bike and at least "play" in the Libyan dunes before departing. The phone connection is a bit spotty, but scratchy news is better than no news at all!There is no description for this file!

Stan Watt from FrontRowGB calls in after stage 4, a stage with massive 300ft dunes well inside Libya. He catches us up on yesterday's news, which saw him and Derrick Edmondson go from 30 minutes ahead of the field, to nearly an hour behind after a confusion over a roadbook change found them on the wrong track. A protest has been filed with the jury, so they may see some or all of that time credited back. Today's stage had both fast bits, and huge dunes, while tomorrow's will be nearly entirely in the deep stuff. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Dave from Adventure-Spec rings in with an in-stage update for their riders. A long "classic" desert stage today, they're hoping it will play to the big bikes and strong navigation of their crew. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

John Deykes calls in after Day 3. Ever wonder what it would REALLY be like to run a rally? Listen in as John shares the dirty details that never seem to make the TV coverage... Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Stan Watt phones in as the rally has seen its first long desert stage, and has crossed the border into Libya. The FrontRowGB riders have moved considerably up the order since the prologue and are now inside the top 10. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Dave from Adventure-Spec rings in with their rider report for Day 2. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Richard rings in with a wrap-up after the finishing ceremony. Thanks for letting us ride pillion for the rally, Richard! Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

Richard Kaye catches up with Jonah Street as they wait for the final podium. Jonah fills us in on his experience at the Central Europe Rally. Well done, Jonah, you've done us proud -- and we can't wait for the next rally! Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

Remi (Flood from ADV) catches up with Rally PanAm after the last stage of the rally, and David has a chance to catch us up on the news of his rally. Thanks, David, heal well! And thanks, Remi, for being our reporter on the ground! Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

SoCal boy John Deykes fulfills nearly every riders dream by participating in an African rally stage -- and he's got another week-plus to go! Great call in, John, good luck, and keep 'em coming! Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Stan Watt from team FrontRowGB phones in after the second stage, a tight 25km affair following a 180km liaison off the ferry. They boys look to move up the rostrum as the stages get longer, and better suited for their KTM 690's. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

John Deykes rings in from the ferry crossing across the Med. The easy livin' won't last long, though, as the long stages start right away, and the dunes are only a few days out. Good luck, John! Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net

Richard Kaye corrals Annie Seel from Sweeden's Loctite team for a quick update. Annie and Richard were a few of the Dakar competitors who rode in Morocco together after the cancellation. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

Richard calls in with a report of his afternoon's stage, and news that everyone's GPS has been "reprogrammed", most likely erasing any anomolies from the morning's special. Feel free to speculate on why that may be... Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

A frustrated Richard Kaye rings in after the first special of Day 6. The body count is mounting, and Richard's seen quite a few riders crash out right in front of him. Additionally, there have been some irregularities with the GPS waypoints (which Jonah Street and other front runners are all too aware of). Hopefully Richard's afternoon will go a bit better and he'll be able to bring it safely home. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

Richard calls in with an absolutely awesome update on Day 5's activities, the state of the rally navigation (or lack thereof), and his race mindset. Keep up the great work, Richard!! Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

Remi (Flood, from ADVrider) calls in from the spectator area at the end of stage 5.2. Speaking with Kevin Heath, apparently Robby Gordon has a mechanical in the stage, and may be in trouble if his support truck is out -- this after winning the day's first stage. Also, Aussie David Schwarz is out with an injured shoulder. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

Dave from Adventure-Spec rings in with an overview of the 2008 Optic Tunisia Rally. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net

Richard Kaye checks in after the stages of Day 4, and has some interesting commentary on the state of the rally organization (or lack thereof). Apologies for the wind noise at the end -- that's live reporting for you! Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

Richard Kaye gives us the details on Day 3's stages, again shortened, and forecasts a long day tomorrow with lengthy liaisons and multiple shorter race stages. He expects tires to be a critical issue for most. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

Richard calls in after the completion of day 2, with some interesting commentary on the rally. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

Niles calls in after the completion of day 2. Jonah rode to 3rd on the day, now sitting 5th overall. Go Jonah! Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

Richard Kaye checks in after running the first stage of Day 2 (If you think that's confusing, you're not alone). Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

Niles from Rally PanAm calls in with a report inbetween the day 2 stages. Jonah took 3rd in the first stage, currently out on course for the second. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net. Music by Dreamline, available at Podsafe.com

Richard gives us a great look at the first day's activities -- a whooped, forested, sandy 60km special, and a long, 400+km liason into Romania.  Interestingly, it was a good day for the big bikes -- we'll see how it plays out in the days to come.

Niles and Charlie call in with a report from scrutineering, on the eve of the Central Europe Rally.  A few niggles, but everything through relatively cleanly.  Rain is beginning to fall again, the teams on big bikes must be getting nervous...

Through scrutineering, Richard Kaye checks in from Budapest (as only he can!).  Looks like much of the field will be running 450 machinery, which with the muddy conditions, may be the ticket to the podium.

Richard calls it like he sees it (especially where the ASO are concerned), and we look forward to his reports from the rally.

Niles Follin, PanAm chief mechanic arrives in Budapest, and finds Jonah right at home in the hotel lobby with rally legends like Stephane Peterhansel, Cyril Despres, and Marc Coma. Runnin' with the big dogs. They're up for some testing tomorrow, and then off for the big show! Stay tuned to RallyRAIDio.net for continuing coverage of the Central Euope Rally.

Charlie and Des have arrived in Budapest, visiting the KTM Factory Rally program in Austria along the way.  They get some work done to Jonah's 690, and get a sneak peek at what the factory riders will be riding at the rally.  Tune in to hear the details!

Charlie Rauseo, manager for Team Rally PanAm calls in from the road.  Flying in to Lisbon this morning, they picked up the support truck, rally bike, and gear stashed after the Dakar was cancelled in January, and is now trekking across Europe toward Hungary to reach the start of the Central Europe Rally.

Stay tuned for complete coverage of the Central Europe Rally on RallyRAIDio.net